‘Otoge’ to Bad Representation: Fake Endorsement of Failure Can Never Stand, Group Insists.

The Ekiti Youth Emancipation Movement has faulted the widely circulated claim of an endorsement of a candidate for the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I seat, describing the process as flawed, opaque and a deviation from democratic norms.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday by its Coordinator, Comrade Ademurewa Gbenga, the group said the procedure leading to the purported endorsement lacked credibility and failed to reflect the collective will of stakeholders within the party.

According to the statement, a stakeholders’ meeting was earlier convened to address the large number of aspirants, where a seven-member screening committee was proposed and approved. However, the group alleged that the composition of the committee was later determined without the knowledge and consent of the stakeholders who endorsed its creation.

The group further claimed that although the committee initially engaged aspirants, its proceedings were allegedly influenced by external forces seeking to predetermine the outcome.

It noted that the report eventually presented has been disowned by some members of the committee, who insisted that it did not reflect the true outcome of their deliberations.

The statement read, “More troubling is the fact that the said report was not presented before the stakeholders who constituted the committee. Rather, it was unveiled at a separate meeting by individuals who neither served on the committee nor were authorised to speak on its behalf.”

The group also disclosed that ward chairmen were allegedly asked to endorse a preferred aspirant during the said meeting but unanimously refused to append their signatures, citing concerns over the legitimacy and transparency of the process.

It described the subsequent gathering where an endorsement was reportedly staged as questionable, noting the absence of key stakeholders and the heavy security presence, which, it said, further undermined the credibility of the exercise.

Raising broader concerns, the group warned against what it termed a return to “cabal-driven politics,” stressing that the great peoples of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I had already rejected such a system.

“The great people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I have spoken before through ‘Otoge’ against bad and ineffective representation. Fake endorsement of failure can never stand.

“Eight years of wasteful representation is enough. It is time to move forward to a more beneficial, people-oriented and development-driven representation for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I,” the statement added.

The group maintained that any endorsement carried out outside the provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of the party remains null and void.

It urged party leaders to prioritise unity and focus on the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for June 20, warning that divisive actions could undermine party cohesion.

The group also called on aspirants to remain calm and continue engaging with constituents, expressing confidence that a fair, transparent and credible primary process would ultimately prevail.

“Attempts by a few individuals to impose a candidate under the guise of consensus must be resisted in the interest of democracy and justice,” the statement said.

The Ekiti Youth Emancipation Movement reaffirmed its commitment to due process, internal democracy and the collective interest of party members and the people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I